Questions and Answers about U.S. Army

Is the Army truly for me? i think it would be an amazing thing to do, as well as instill great things upon myself. I'm just 16, so i have a little while longer, but i obviously need to figure things out. I want to join, but the possibility of being deployed is a little nerving, can anyone help guide me to an answer

Asked February 16, 2016

Help job seekers learn about the company by being objective and to the point.

72 answers

When you stand up and swear to protect against the enemies of the United States of America, foreign and domestic....you better mean it. If you join, you WILL deploy. If you are Infantry or Artillery, you will go to the front lines and you will see things that will stay with you for the rest of your life. In truth, it doesn't really matter what position you hold, because it doesn't take deploying to see things that will haunt you forever. Things can happen at home, like suicide, someone you consider a brother or sister losing their minds and being hospitalized. The Army is not a job, it is a way of life. Either you adapt to it, or you fail. It's a choice you make daily to wake up and serve. It's a daily choice to possess Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Your life will not be yours, you will be government property. If you so much as get a sunburn, you could be discharged. If you decide to make the choice to lay your life down daily for your country, that is all that you will do. It will never be about you anymore. It will be about the brothers and sisters to your left, your right, before you and behind you. You have to not care if you live or die, and know that if you give your life for your brother or sister, that they in return would do the same for you. It's all about getting home, and making sure that your whole team makes it home to celebrate greatness and the lack of being defeated. As a Soldier you will learn that the words "Cant", "Quit", "won't" do not exist in your life. You will wake up every day knowing that you Can, you Will Not give up, and you absolutely WILL do as you are told. If you falter for one moment and rebut against leadership, you are placing not only yours, but all of your team's life in danger. When you train, you must consider it the real deal, so that when you're in the real deal and not at home training, you wont know the difference, it will just be normal. You have to know in your hear that this is all you want to do; serve, protect, and come home. If you are already afraid of deploying, (and you're only 16, so obviously you have not truly lived yet, and you have a lot of life left to do) this may not be for you.; Examine your fear, live a little and get a few things out of your system, and then make a conscious adult decision to Join without any influence other than your own mind and heart. Above all, make sure that your heart is completely ready to be selfless in all aspects of your life. Be humble, but be fierce, and you will be an excellent Soldier.

How long do you have to be in army reserve? Is there a certain time you have to complete or can you go as long as you want?

Answered January 14, 2017

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The army helped me gain discipline and self confidence. They bring out the best in you. Being deployed is unnerving but can be a good experience. You become self aware and learn that you are capable of doing things you never thought you could do.

I think while you're young, you should consider more options but I think the Army was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I would say get more school under your belt, if you're going to go. That's the one thing I would have done different. I'm playing catch up with that. Make sure you get a job that will create more opportunities once you're out as well. Lastly, deployments aren't as bad as some people make them out to be. I loved mine and I've been deployed 4 times.

The military is not for everyone because of the job issue with what job you choose might not benefit you in getting a job outside the military. Although its structured meaning that everything is planned out for you most of the time except for outside of work. Its like school structure. You do this A this time then B & C at this time then lunch break and so on. While in there are a lot of things you can benefit from like the different certifications and skills you can pick up through different types of training you can do outside of your specific job like survival, or medic courses, airborne, etc. Even vehicle certifications with fork lift and even heavy duty machinery. It can set you up for very great success if you choose to get out. Or you can continue your job outside military on to Government contracting which pays a lot more.